The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 301 On merit
"Why is this?" Yang Yuhuan asked puzzledly.

Li Heng said, "I have just made great contributions and have done nothing wrong. If the emperor lets me go back to Anxi now, it will be too obvious that he is suppressing me, which will chill the hearts of the soldiers on the frontier."

Yang Yuhuan pondered, "To be in this position, whether it is wrong or not does not seem to depend on whether the husband has done it or not, but on whether the saint wants the husband to be wrong or not."

"That's what happened." Li Heng nodded and said with a smile, "But father is ambitious. Now that the Tang Dynasty has won such a great victory over Tubo, father must want to report to the heavens and ancestors and show off his achievements. If he accuses me of a crime now, doesn't that mean he has hired the wrong person?"

"That makes sense. Besides, the Huihe and Karluk tribes in the north are also gradually gaining strength. Young Master has such talent, so the Saint will not give up on you easily." Yang Yuhuan smiled, "Young Master has come this far thanks to his extraordinary achievements and careful planning. If you take a wrong step, you will... be doomed."

Yang Yuhuan paused for a moment, because she began to feel that the word "never to be recovered" was too strong, but when she thought of the deaths of Li Ying, Wei Jian, Li Shizhi and others, she felt that the word was just right.

The closer you are to the center of power, the more it feels like the arena of hell.

"I rely more on you as my good wife. Without you, I wouldn't be where I am today." Li Ying held Yang Yuhuan's hand.

The two smiled at each other.

……

This winter, Li Heng did as he said. After arriving in Liangzhou, he basically did not meet any guests and rarely took care of military and political affairs. He stayed in the mansion for two months, "recuperating" from his illness for two months. It was not until the early spring of 749 that Feng Changqing escorted the former King of Dabolü to Liangzhou, and Li Heng returned to Beijing with Feng Changqing.

This time, Li Ying brought He Jin, Wei Xianyi and his eldest son Li You back with him.

In the Chenxiang Pavilion of Xingqing Palace.

Before Li Heng arrived, news about him had already been delivered to Li Longji.

Gao Lishi first presented Ling Cheng's secret memorial, and then Wei Zhaoxun presented another one.

Li Longji read the two secret reports and said, "Shiba Lang has been recuperating in the mansion for two months. It seems that his condition is very serious this time."

Gao Lishi said: "Since His Royal Highness Prince Shou's condition is so serious, I am afraid it will be difficult for him to shoulder the heavy responsibility of the four towns."

Li Longji glanced at Wei Zhaoxun and asked, "What do you think, Wei Qing?"

Wei Zhaoxun said: "I agree with General Gao's words."

Li Longji smiled slightly and said, "Whether I can take on this important task or not, I need to see Shiba Lang first, and it also depends on Shiba Lang's opinion."

Wei Zhaoxun said: "Thunder and rain are the grace of heaven. Whether His Royal Highness Shou Wang is competent for the task should be decided by the saints."

Li Longji agreed in his heart, but he didn't say anything. He changed the topic and said, "Yesterday, the Imperial Censor Yang Zhao reported that Prince Sheng and Wang Yu's son Wang Yuankang had a fight in Pingkangfang because of a geisha. Has Li Shi investigated the matter?"

Gao Lishi hesitated for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, I have found out. The geisha was called 'Tianshui Singing Fairy' and she wanted to pay a hundred taels of silver for just one look. Wang Yuankang spent a fortune and agreed to spend a night with this Tianshui Singing Fairy. Halfway through, His Royal Highness Prince Sheng arrived and had an argument with Wang Yuankang. His Royal Highness Prince Sheng then ordered his escort to beat Wang Yuankang first."

Li Longji asked, "So it was Prince Sheng who started it first?"

Gao Lishi said: "That's right."

Li Longji said, "As a prince, he is so disrespectful of his status that he has brought disgrace upon the royal family. Go and reprimand him on my behalf and order him not to leave the palace for three months and not to receive food and fiefdom for a year." "Yes." Gao Lishi accepted the order and asked, "Should Wang Yuankang be punished?"

Li Longji said: "Let's see what Wang Yu says first."

"Yes." Gao Lishi saluted Li Longji and went out.

Two days later.

Li Ying and his entourage returned to Chang'an and met Li Longji in the Purple Palace.

Li Longji asked someone to give Li Heng a seat in front of the hall. He took a careful look at Li Heng and saw that Li Heng looked sick and in poor spirits, but he had no problem walking or sitting.

Li Heng first gave an overall report on the war, and then ordered his men to bring in the former King of Dabolü and the royal prisoners of war from Tubo.

Li Longji was very happy. He gave the former King of Dabolü and the Tibetan royal prisoners of war idle official titles and imprisoned them in Beijing. He also promoted Feng Changqing to acting Imperial Censor on the spot, gave him a goldfish bag, and gave his eldest son a fifth-rank official title. Then he said to Li Heng, "Eighteenth brother, you first conquered Shibao City and took the Nine Bends of the Yellow River. Your contribution is great. Tell me what reward you want, and I will satisfy you."

Li Heng's honorary titles have basically reached the top. If he wants to be promoted, he can only create a special title of "General of Heavenly Strategy" just like Li Yuan did to Li Shimin. Therefore, to outsiders, Li Longji's words sounded like Li Yuan's intention.

But Li Ying doesn't think so.

Li Ying stood up and saluted, saying, "The victory in the war was due to the grace and majesty of my father and the dedication of my soldiers. I dare not take credit for it. However, I have been away from home for many years and have not been able to show filial piety to my father and mother, to respect my elder brother, and to care for my younger brother. I feel very guilty."

Li Longji was shocked and thought to himself, "Does he want to stay in Chang'an? This is absolutely impossible!"

Li Longji was calculating in his heart, but with a kind smile on his face, he said: "It is always difficult to have both in life. Your achievements in the frontier are the greatest filial piety and the greatest righteousness to your brothers."

Li Heng said, "I heard that my 21st brother made a mistake and was confined to his home for three months by my father. This is because I did not take good care of my 21st brother. If my father wants to reward me, please forgive my 21st brother's punishment!"

Everyone present was shocked when they heard this.

In their opinion, Li Qi's penalty was nothing compared to Li Heng's contribution. No matter how humble Li Heng was, he would not have made such a substitution.

Li Longji was also very surprised. He originally thought that Li Heng wanted to stay in Beijing, but he didn't expect that Li Heng had been laying the groundwork for so long just to "shelter" Li Qi.

Li Longji pondered for a moment and said, "I have said that I will satisfy any request you make. Are you sure you want to exchange such a great achievement for the punishment of twenty-one men?"

"This is my dereliction of duty as an elder brother, and I should bear the responsibility. I have made up my mind, and I hope that Your Majesty will grant my wish." Li Ying spoke earnestly.

Li Longji looked at Li Heng and thought of his brothers.

Back then, he and his brothers were very friendly and respectful to each other, and he also "protected" his brothers very much. But now, his brothers are all gone.

Li Longji sighed silently, and felt closer to Li Heng. He said, "Since you have made up your mind, I will approve it. Since you are not feeling well, you can stay in Chang'an for two months to recuperate before returning. The matter between Ershiyilang and Wang Yuankang has not been decided yet. Since you have asked for mercy for Ershiyilang, you can take care of this matter. In addition, I will reward you with 100,000 silks and increase your fief by 3,000 households."

"Thank you, father." Li Heng thanked first, and then said: "My son is in poor health and I am afraid that I can't shoulder the heavy responsibility of the four towns. I humbly ask your father to allow me to resign from the post of Jiedushi of the four towns."

(End of this chapter)